Mat Raymond III spent his summers growing up washing cars at the detail department of Sanders Ford and loved it.

There was never any question in his mind that he’d make a place for himself in the automobile industry.

“I never thought about doing anything else. The car business gets in your blood,” he said.

If it’s not in his blood, the business is definitely entwined in the family tree.

Raymond, who now serves as general manager at Sanders Ford, has followed his father, Mat Raymond Jr., into the business and the elder Raymond carried on a link in the family business before him. Raymond Jr., president of Sanders Ford Inc., joined the dealership in 1970 after moving from Raleigh with his wife Elizabeth to work for her father, Bruce J. Downey Jr., nephew of the early owners.

This Father’s Day, Sanders Ford is one example among area businesses where fathers and sons share business ties as well as family ties.

Mat Raymond Jr. said that as a father he’s enjoyed seeing his son excel and prosper at something he’s always loved doing.

“He’s learned the whole business department-by-department and I’m really proud of him,” he said.

At East Coast Sports in Surf City, Doug Medlin works side by side with his son Chris in a business that was started in 1952 by Doug’s late father, Charles “Charlie” Medlin.

The father and son admit there can be differences as the ways of one generation clash with the next, but the love for the business is one they share.

“The biggest change from one generation to the next is technology,” Doug Medlin said with a chuckle.

What hasn’t changed over the three generations is the family’s philosophy about business.

Doug Medlin said he learned the value of customer service from his father and he’s tried to carry that forward.

“He developed his business on friendliness and personal contact,” Doug said.

Customer service and a strong knowledge of the product you sell is an advantage the Medlins believe small business has over the big box stores.

“When you walk out of our store with fishing tackle or boating supplies, you know you have what you need,” Chris added.

Chris Medlin said he’s learned by example from his father.

“It’s not something spoken, it’s something lived every day,” he said of his father’s teachings.

For sons following in the footsteps of their fathers, there has been encouragement but not a push for them to enter the family business.

“My father has always supported me in everything I’ve done and has always given me the confidence that I can do what I want to do,” said Brandon Mills, who joined his brother and father at SIA Group, a regional insurance agency, six years ago.

Sen. William D. “Billy” Mills founded the insurance agency that evolved into SIA Group in 1975 and inspired his son W.D. “Don” Mills to take on a career in insurance.

Don Mills joined his father in business and later bought him out. He is now president of SIA Group, and his sons, Brandon and W.D. “Bill” Mills continue down the same career path.

There is pride in being part of a family business. There is also respect and a desire to live by what they’ve learned.

“What I’ve learned is treat people the way you would want to be treated and to have a good heart; do business the right way,” he said.

From the fathers, there’s really only one wish for their children, whether they’ve joined them in business or gone in different directions.